Nosler reload data over Sierra Bullets

[Trekwest]

Hey guys, looking for input for a new reloader. Looking up 7x57 Mauser data through Nosler and they list Ramshot Hunter for loading under 175gr partitions and another. However due to availability issues, I am looking at loading a 173gr Sierra over the ramshot hunter. Would I be in the ballpark if I worked the ladder tests just right and would I be safe in doing so or should I jump into the Sierra manual and just wait for the powder to become available? Again, new to reloading and any info would be appreciated.

 

[DrMike]

Did you mean the 175 grain SBT or Matchking? Or were you meaning to put in the 183 grain HPBT Matchking? I'm not familiar with a 173 g Sierra bullet.

Data for similar weight bullets can be used--the Lee manual has done this for years. Allow yourself to drop the propellant charge to a safe level and work up carefully.

I would be comfortable working up a load with the Nosler manual as a guide. I would definitely drop back at least 5% and working up carefully, watching for signs of pressure. Use a chronograph if available. It will give you a good estimation of what to expect and warn you away if the velocities appear excessive. There is no free lunch, so greater velocities almost inevitably mean higher pressures.

Welcome aboard. Glad to have your question.

 

[Trekwest]

Wow I should have proof read my question! So they are 175 swift bullets, not Sierra. My box of Sierras are the 160s. Apologies for the confusion. Since posting I picked up an extra pound of BL-C2 from Hodgdon so I have some mad science to dive into. Thank you a ton for your time and knowledge.

 

[DrMike]

Case fill wouldn't be optimum with Hunter, but it would give decent velocity.

Cartridge : 7 x 57 mm Mauser (SAAMI)
Bullet : .284, 175, Swift A-Frame SS
Useable Case Capaci: 50.811 grain H2O = 3.299 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 3.071 inch = 78.00 mm
Barrel Length : 22.0 inch = 558.8 mm
Powder : Ramshot Hunter

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 1.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step Fill. Charge Vel. Energy Pmax Pmuz Prop.Burnt B_Time
% % Grains fps ft.lbs psi psi % ms

-10.0 79 38.16 2185 1856 39791 8645 95.4 1.379
-09.0 80 38.58 2207 1892 40712 8746 95.8 1.366
-08.0 81 39.01 2228 1929 41659 8846 96.1 1.353
-07.0 82 39.43 2249 1966 42630 8945 96.4 1.340
-06.0 82 39.86 2270 2003 43629 9042 96.7 1.327 ! Near Maximum !
-05.0 83 40.28 2292 2041 44657 9137 97.0 1.315 ! Near Maximum !
-04.0 84 40.70 2313 2079 45713 9230 97.3 1.302 ! Near Maximum !
-03.0 85 41.13 2334 2117 46798 9322 97.5 1.289 ! Near Maximum !
-02.0 86 41.55 2355 2156 47909 9412 97.8 1.277 ! Near Maximum !
-01.0 87 41.98 2376 2195 49062 9499 98.0 1.265 ! Near Maximum !
+00.0 88 42.40 2398 2234 50239 9585 98.3 1.253 ! Near Maximum !
+01.0 89 42.82 2419 2274 51454 9668 98.5 1.241 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+02.0 89 43.25 2440 2314 52700 9750 98.7 1.229 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+03.0 90 43.67 2461 2354 53977 9829 98.9 1.217 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+04.0 91 44.10 2482 2395 55286 9905 99.0 1.206 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+05.0 92 44.52 2504 2435 56627 9980 99.2 1.194 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

Results caused by ± 10% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 10% relative to nominal value:
+Ba 88 42.40 2504 2437 58284 9423 100.0 1.192 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 10% relative to nominal value:
-Ba 88 42.40 2260 1984 42340 9276 92.6 1.327


BL-C2 would be fast; case fill would not at all be optimal. It would work, yielding velocity only slightly lower than Hunter.

Cartridge : 7 x 57 mm Mauser (SAAMI)
Bullet : .284, 175, Swift A-Frame SS
Useable Case Capaci: 50.811 grain H2O = 3.299 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 3.071 inch = 78.00 mm
Barrel Length : 22.0 inch = 558.8 mm
Powder : Hodgdon BL-C2

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 1.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step Fill. Charge Vel. Energy Pmax Pmuz Prop.Burnt B_Time
% % Grains fps ft.lbs psi psi % ms

-10.0 66 33.84 2134 1770 39952 7875 99.4 1.425
-09.0 67 34.22 2154 1803 40785 7946 99.5 1.412
-08.0 68 34.59 2173 1835 41640 8016 99.6 1.398
-07.0 68 34.97 2193 1868 42516 8084 99.7 1.385
-06.0 69 35.34 2212 1901 43413 8150 99.8 1.372 ! Near Maximum !
-05.0 70 35.72 2231 1934 44332 8215 99.9 1.359 ! Near Maximum !
-04.0 71 36.10 2250 1967 45273 8277 99.9 1.346 ! Near Maximum !
-03.0 71 36.47 2269 2001 46237 8337 100.0 1.334 ! Near Maximum !
-02.0 72 36.85 2288 2034 47225 8395 100.0 1.321 ! Near Maximum !
-01.0 73 37.22 2307 2068 48236 8451 100.0 1.309 ! Near Maximum !
+00.0 74 37.60 2326 2101 49271 8506 100.0 1.297 ! Near Maximum !
+01.0 74 37.98 2344 2135 50330 8559 100.0 1.286 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+02.0 75 38.35 2363 2169 51415 8612 100.0 1.274 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+03.0 76 38.73 2381 2203 52525 8665 100.0 1.262 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+04.0 77 39.10 2400 2237 53662 8718 100.0 1.251 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+05.0 77 39.48 2418 2272 54826 8770 100.0 1.240 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

Results caused by ± 10% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 10% relative to nominal value:
+Ba 74 37.60 2403 2243 56019 8230 100.0 1.213 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 10% relative to nominal value:
-Ba 74 37.60 2215 1906 42774 8623 97.9 1.366

 

[Trekwest]

To see this information pulled up after the hours of research I've been diving into blows my mind. In the words of my late Grandfather, I don't know what your drink of choice is but I sure as hell owe you one. I don't mean to sound like a novice here but where did this come from?

 

[Guy Miner]

To see this information pulled up after the hours of research I've been diving into blows my mind. In the words of my late Grandfather, I don't know what your drink of choice is but I sure as hell owe you one. I don't mean to sound like a novice here but where did this come from?

Welcome aboard. That was from the "Quickload" program. Dr Mike and a few others here have it and have been generous with requests for data over the years.

Re those Swift bullets, they're jackets were or are made of a pure copper rather than the "gilding metal" most bullet jackets use, so the Swift is a bit "stickier" and may not react well to the same powder charges other bullets of the same weight would. If that makes sense.

I like to get the reloading manual from the bullet maker I prefer, such as Nosler. Mostly I shoot Noslers, so I use their manual a lot. Fortunately some years ago they elected to put that manual on line, for free! I also use some Hornady, Speer and Barnes bullets, so I have those manuals too.

Welcome to Nosler's reloading forum, it's a great place to pull up a chair, and have a chat.

Regards, Guy

 

[Trekwest]

Welcome aboard. That was from the "Quickload" program. Dr Mike and a few others here have it and have been generous with requests for data over the years.

Re those Swift bullets, they're jackets were or are made of a pure copper rather than the "gilding metal" most bullet jackets use, so the Swift is a bit "stickier" and may not react well to the same powder charges other bullets of the same weight would. If that makes sense.

I like to get the reloading manual from the bullet maker I prefer, such as Nosler. Mostly I shoot Noslers, so I use their manual a lot. Fortunately some years ago they elected to put that manual on line, for free! I also use some Hornady, Speer and Barnes bullets, so I have those manuals too.

Welcome to Nosler's reloading forum, it's a great place to pull up a chair, and have a chat.

Regards, Guy

Thank you for the info Guy. Will make sure to put this info into what I am now calling my Novel of Notes.

 

[mjcmichigan]

I have Nosler 2, 3 and 9, Hornady 11, and I think it’s Sierra 6. Have online versions of Hornady and Sierra, and Nosler I will check for newer data on line.

Welcome to reloading and the forum.. set aside some time and go through old posts.
I snag favorite loads I see that I might want to try.. 300WM, 300WSM, 3006, 3030, 243, 223, 22-250, 45/70govt. Dr Mike Guy Miner and many others I have followed for several years and I’m much better at reloading because of the combined experiences…
Some people are in a league of their own with Marksmanship… as you follow, you’ll see what I mean.

 

[SJB358]

Not sure what other powder you have on hand, but sometimes listing what you have helps out to get you in the ballpark. Adding in your rifle as well. The old 7x57 can be loaded a bit warmer, depending on which rifle you're intending to use it in.

 

[Trekwest]

Thanks for the reply. Currently I have Ramshot Hunter, BLC2, H110 and IMR 4223. Trying to be conservative since it is a Spanish mauser.

 

[PJGunner]

What rifle are you using for the 7x57? I'm running a Winchester M70 Featherweight, Ruger #1A and a custom built on an commercial FN Mauser action. Load work ups for the first two have been relatively easy but that Mauser is giving me fits. For one thing it has a very tight chamber. It gives pressure problems much sooner that the two factory rifles. I have to wait until things heat up a bit as I do load work ups during most of out very hot summers. Anything I work up to at that time in more than safe during a hunt.
Paul B.

 

[Trekwest]

What rifle are you using for the 7x57? I'm running a Winchester M70 Featherweight, Ruger #1A and a custom built on an commercial FN Mauser action. Load work ups for the first two have been relatively easy but that Mauser is giving me fits. For one thing it has a very tight chamber. It gives pressure problems much sooner that the two factory rifles. I have to wait until things heat up a bit as I do load work ups during most of out very hot summers. Anything I work up to at that time in more than safe during a hunt.
Paul B.

Hey Paul, I am shooting a 1916 Spanish Mauser which has gone through some sporterizing. Right off the bat, my bullet weights need to be in the 170s. Anything in the 140s gets me about a 16 inch group at 100yds. I shrunk my groups a bit by removing top wood and placing a scout style optic on it along with a home bedding job would took me down to 3inch at 100yds.

 

[Trekwest]

What rifle are you using for the 7x57? I'm running a Winchester M70 Featherweight, Ruger #1A and a custom built on an commercial FN Mauser action. Load work ups for the first two have been relatively easy but that Mauser is giving me fits. For one thing it has a very tight chamber. It gives pressure problems much sooner that the two factory rifles. I have to wait until things heat up a bit as I do load work ups during most of out very hot summers. Anything I work up to at that time in more than safe during a hunt.
Paul B.

 

[MorllEySwenseL]

Congratulations to you, I like it